Google Tez digital payment app launched: A look at other popular UPI-based apps in India

India is clearly moving a step closer towards becoming a cashless economy, thanks to Unified Payment Interface (UPI). Today, tech giant Google joined the bandwagon as well and introduced its mobile payment solution, Tez, which would allow users to receive and send money virtually, and skip the paper currency completely.

Apart from Tez, let us have a quick look at the top UPI-based apps in India:

BHIM

BHIM, developed by the NPCI (National Payment Corporation of India) as a part of the Digital India initiative, can be touted as the simplest and fastest UPI app available in India. It supports a long list of banks such as Axis Bank, Central Bank of India, Citi Bank, DBS Bank, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, IDBI Bank, Yes Bank and many more.

With the app, you can check your bank balance and transactions details on the go, create a custom digital payment address in addition to your phone number, scan QR codes without logging into the app, making it easy for merchants to print their QR Code for display. Most importantly, BHIM allows you to block/spam users who are sending you collect requests from illicit sources.

Paytm

Paytm is one of the fastest growing mobile-payment apps in India for online payments and mobile recharge. Users use the service to pay bills online, DTH recharge and utility bills, movies, shopping and much more. The Payments Bank also offers a ‘Savings Account’ with no account opening charges or minimum balance requirements - users can deposit up to Rs 1 lakh. With ‘Explore Nearby’, you can explore places – retail stores, restaurants, petrol pumps - near you that accept payment through the Paytm wallet.

Freecharge

Freecharge is a famous name when it comes to digital payments in India. One of the main reasons it has attracted a large audience as it offers an equivalent amount of coupons, for every recharge made from the service. Also, it’s the ‘Chat-n-Pay’ service enables you to chat and pay friends, family and merchants in less than 5 minutes.